Latest news with #JamesBrindleyCommunityPrimarySchool
Yahoo
03-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Veteran, 103, moved by children's letters about war
"This has filled me up really good, it has," said World War Two veteran bombardier Tom Jones. Just moments earlier the 103-year-old had been read letters written by students at James Brindley Community Primary School, in Walkden, Manchester, ahead of celebrations for the 80th anniversary of Victory in Europe (VE) Day. It is part of VE Mail, a letter exchange project which wants to connect 50,000 UK school children with WW2 veterans to "ensure that first-hand memories from veterans are passed on to the next generation in a meaningful way". Thursday will mark 80 years since the unconditional surrender of German military forces on 8 May 1945. Since it was launched on 19 March, more than 1,100 schools and youth organisations have signed up to VE Mail. Students who were part of the initiative at James Brindley Community Primary School received a letter from Mr Jones in March, in which he described his memories from World War Two. It also talked about the conditions he lived in while fighting against the Japanese military in Burma, now known as Myanmar. "On VE Day we were still dodging bullets in the jungle, and we did for another three months. People don't know how bad it was in Burma," Mr Jones told the BBC on a visit to the school. "We went 12 months without changing clothes, without a bath or shower, or a cooked meal, and in between that we were fighting," he said. Several students, including Valentina, wanted to read their response to Mr Jones' letter in person. "Thank you for your time and the privileges you have given us. I bet it was difficult being away from a normal life in Britain," she said. "I was amazed by your strength of character and how you lived to tell the tale, and being the age of 103 is an exquisite achievement. "I hope that eventually our generation will realise how hard you and your comrades fought for peace and rights, because war has no winners, just losers." Mr Jones' letter also spoke about being away from his family, and late wife, Eileen. In another letter, student Annabelle said she was "thrilled" to know the veteran eventually was able to build return home and build a life with Eileen. "I believe you were so brave being away from your family and your sweetheart at such a young age and for such a long time because I would never be able to do what you did," she said. "You must have been thrilled after the war when you came home and married your sweetheart Eileen and found a peaceful place to build a family." As the students were reading their letters aloud to Mr Jones he had the chance to expand on stories. Speaking about Eileen to the students, he said: "She was my best girl, and she waited four years for me to come home." At the end of the meeting with the children, Mr Jones added: "They are beautiful letters and make me feel like all I went through was worth it. "This has filled me up really good, it has." Listen to the best of BBC Radio Manchester on Sounds and follow BBC Manchester on Facebook, X, and Instagram. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230. VE Day 2025 - All the street parties in Manchester Flypast and concert for VE Day 80th commemorations VE Mail
BBC News
03-05-2025
- General
- BBC News
Veteran, 103, says children's letters made sacrifice 'worth it'
"This has filled me up really good, it has," said World War Two veteran bombardier Tom moments earlier the 103-year-old had been read letters written by students at James Brindley Community Primary School, in Walkden, Manchester, ahead of celebrations for the 80th anniversary of Victory in Europe (VE) is part of VE Mail, a letter exchange project which wants to connect 50,000 UK school children with WW2 veterans to "ensure that first-hand memories from veterans are passed on to the next generation in a meaningful way".Thursday will mark 80 years since the unconditional surrender of German military forces on 8 May 1945. Since it was launched on 19 March, more than 1,100 schools and youth organisations have signed up to VE who were part of the initiative at James Brindley Community Primary School received a letter from Mr Jones in March, in which he described his memories from World War also talked about the conditions he lived in while fighting against the Japanese military in Burma, now known as Myanmar."On VE Day we were still dodging bullets in the jungle, and we did for another three months. People don't know how bad it was in Burma," Mr Jones told the BBC on a visit to the school."We went 12 months without changing clothes, without a bath or shower, or a cooked meal, and in between that we were fighting," he students, including Valentina, wanted to read their response to Mr Jones' letter in person."Thank you for your time and the privileges you have given us. I bet it was difficult being away from a normal life in Britain," she said. "I was amazed by your strength of character and how you lived to tell the tale, and being the age of 103 is an exquisite achievement."I hope that eventually our generation will realise how hard you and your comrades fought for peace and rights, because war has no winners, just losers."Mr Jones' letter also spoke about being away from his family, and late wife, another letter, student Annabelle said she was "thrilled" to know the veteran eventually was able to build return home and build a life with Eileen."I believe you were so brave being away from your family and your sweetheart at such a young age and for such a long time because I would never be able to do what you did," she said. "You must have been thrilled after the war when you came home and married your sweetheart Eileen and found a peaceful place to build a family."As the students were reading their letters aloud to Mr Jones he had the chance to expand on about Eileen to the students, he said: "She was my best girl, and she waited four years for me to come home."At the end of the meeting with the children, Mr Jones added: "They are beautiful letters and make me feel like all I went through was worth it."This has filled me up really good, it has." Listen to the best of BBC Radio Manchester on Sounds and follow BBC Manchester on Facebook, X, and Instagram. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230.
BBC News
29-03-2025
- General
- BBC News
WW2 veteran urges Salford children to 'be kind and choose peace'
A 103-year-old World War Two veteran has urged the next generation of children to "be kind and choose peace" after explaining war was "truly terrible". Tom Jones gave the warning in a letter to primary school pupils in Worsley, Salford, where he went to share his experiences of fighting in the conflict. The Bombardier, who was called up to the Royal Artillery aged 17 in 1939, said war was "not glorious", but a "hard time, and added: "I had to grow up fast." He is one of several surviving people who fought in WW2 to write to schools ahead of the 80th anniversary of VE Day, with pupils encouraged to write back to forge lasting connections with veterans. Mr Jones met the children at James Brindley Community Primary School to read some of his letter and show them his Morse code machine. The wireless operator fought in both the Burma War and World War Two,Some of the pupils said they planned to write back to him and say "we appreciate everything you have done for us", and to let him know he was "so brave" to go to war at such a young age. Mr Jones told the BBC he had "really enjoyed" coming to the school to tell the youngsters "what it was like". The visit came as part of a push by charity the Together Coalition to build lasting connections between children and the UK's few remaining World War Two veterans and hear their first-hand accounts. Schools have been invited to sign up to the 'VE Mail' project, where pupils receive a letter from veterans setting out their wartime experiences and then write back. 'Baton of memory' Mr Jones said the initiative was a "major opportunity to pass the baton of memory and of meaning to the next generation". He said: "Eighty years ago we were part of something historic; a victory in Europe and in Asia that protected democracy and our country for our whole lifetime. "The victory meant the world to us at the time - but the values are as relevant today as they were then."Kate Stokes, head teacher at James Brindley Community Primary School said Mr Jones' letter had "brought the past to life" and created a meaningful link between the children and "those to whom we owe so much". "As they write their letters in return, they reflect on the sacrifices made and express their gratitude—an incredibly powerful and moving experience that will stay with them for years to come," she said. Listen to the best of BBC Radio Manchester on Sounds and follow BBC Manchester on Facebook, X, and Instagram. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230.
Sky News
22-03-2025
- General
- Sky News
WWII veteran, 103, shares his experience as a bombardier ahead of VE Day anniversary
A 103-year-old Second World War veteran has been sharing his stories of the frontline with primary school children in Salford - as part of a new project to celebrate the anniversary of VE Day. Bombardier Tom Jones was called up to serve in the Royal Artillery as the war broke out in 1939 - when he was aged just 17. He spent time defending the Liverpool Docks and was later posted to Myanmar, also known as Burma, for four years until the end of the war in 1945. He is one of the surviving veterans taking part in the VE Mail project - writing a personal letter to schoolchildren about his experiences during the war. He wrote to the children at James Brindley Community Primary School in Salford and was invited to read his letter in person to the Year 6 class. He said sharing his experiences with the children was important to him. "I think people should know about what we went through," he told Sky News. "There were no films, no pictures about it. There were no reporters in Burma, no photographers. So I think people should know about it - the conditions that we lived in were shocking." The VE Mail project has been launched to mark the 80th anniversary of VE Day on 8 May 2025. As part of the initiative, run by the Together coalition and Royal Mail, schools across the UK can apply to get a personalised letter from a Second World War veteran. Pupils will then be able to write their own letters in response. Tom's letter detailed his experiences working as a wireless operator in the Burmese jungle, serving alongside the Gurkhas, who he described as the "very best" of soldiers. His story of being chased by a wild elephant while training in India drew delighted smiles from the class. He also brought in a Morse code machine, which he demonstrated by typing out some of the children's names. "He amazed me," said Jetty Bammeke, one of the Year 6 pupils. "Some of his stories were funny, some were sad. "He told us how he made friends and missed his wife dearly. He did a great job serving his community and fighting in the war." Adele Jewell, who is head of history at the school, says the project has helped pupils connect with what they are learning about the war. "Having someone who is experienced and can tell their story and their journey engages the children in a way that we could not possibly do," she told Sky News. "Children now are using devices for writing and text. Actually writing letters gives them that chance to think about vocabulary and how they can express themselves."
